Airflow obstruction among young adults in Europe: a Chronic Airway Diseases Early Stratification (CADSET) collaboration with 48 612 individuals across eight population-based cohorts
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Background The extent to which airflow obstruction, a key feature of COPD, can be already present in early adulthood is unclear. We investigated the prevalence of airflow obstruction in young adults across European populations. Methods We identified 48 612 individuals aged 20–40 years across eight population-based European cohorts in the Chronic Airway Diseases Early Stratification (CADSET) collaboration and applied two commonly used definitions of airflow obstruction: pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 )/forced vital capacity (FVC) <0.70 and below the lower limit of normal (LLN). We explored how the prevalence of airflow obstruction according to both criteria was related to age, sex and smoking. Results Airflow obstruction prevalence increased with increasing age from 2.3% in those aged 20–24.9 years to 6.3% in those aged 35–39.9 years according to FEV 1 /FVC <0.70, and from 7.3% to 8.3% according to FEV 1 /FVC versus 7.5% in females, and up to 9.0% in ever-smokers versus 6.9% in never-smokers. Difference in prevalence of airflow obstruction between FEV 1 /FVC <0.70 and Conclusion Up to 8% of young adults across Europe have airflow obstruction; its cause and its role in prior, concurrent and future airway disease merit further investigation.
Source: ERJ Open Research
Authors: Yunus Çolak, James P. Allinson, Maarten van den Berge, Debbie Jarvis, Arnulf Langhammer, Robab Breyer-Kohansal, Bright I. Nwaru, Helena Backman, Judith M. Vonk, Børge G. Nordestgaard, Peter Lange, Sigrid A. Aalberg Vikjord, Marie-Kathrin Breyer, Hannu Kankaanranta, Anne Lindberg, Eva Rönmark, Lowie E.G.W. Vanfleteren, Jørgen Vestbo, Jadwiga A. Wedzicha, Erik Melén, Alvar Agustí, Rosa Faner, Shoaib Afzal
Institutions: University of Copenhagen, Herlev Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Gentofte Hospital, Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, Imperial College London, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Levanger Hospital, Helse Nord-Trøndelag HF, Klinik Hietzing, Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Lung Health, University of Gothenburg, Umeå University, Tampere University, Seinäjoen Keskussairaala, University of Tampere, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm South General Hospital, Sachs' Children and Youth Hospital, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Consorci Institut D'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi I Sunyer, Universitat de Barcelona
Language: English
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $808
OpenAlex ID: W4410193029